This is a past event

The Amherst College Department of Music presents “Kundalini Rising,” an original composition for voices and electronics by Tomal Hossain '17, and "Retrospect" by Anthony Daniel Narag '17 on Friday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall in the Arms Music Center at Amherst College. The concert is free and open to the public; seating is by general admission.

“Kundalini Rising” was conceived to serve as an experimental soundtrack for guided meditation for yogic practices such as that of Sahaja Yoga. In particular, the piece’s seven movements deal with texts and musical material that correspond with the ethical and psychological associations espoused by the seven chakras (centers of spiritual energy) housed along the spine of one’s body. In the act of meditation, one concentrates on reciting affirmations directed towards each chakra, one after another, culminating in intense spiritual cleansing. This highly perceptible sensation is thought to reflect one’s attainment of self-realization, i.e., a keen recognition of divinity within.

The piece’s melodic material draws heavily from the music of South Asian composer-performers including Kazi Nazrul Islam and the Dagar family of Dhrupad musicians. Formal and harmonic choices resemble those of the 20th-century choral sounds of Meredith Monk, György Ligeti, Veljo Tormis, David Lang, John Cage and Arvo Pärt. Digital samples and effects processing are inspired by the EAI (Electroacoustic Improvisation) scene of the late 20th century up till the present day. Texts for the piece's seven movements are either poems or excerpts of writing by the spiritual leader and polymath Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007). The debut performance features eight vocalists, a laptop player and the composer himself serving as conductor.

For a complete listing of upcoming Amherst College Department of Music events, visit us on the web: www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/music/events

Contact Info

Alisa Pearson
(413) 542-2195
Please call the college operator at 413-542-2000 or e-mail info@amherst.edu if you require contact info @amherst.edu